Wales, Malvern, Birmingham, London, Sussex, Kent . . . August was jam-packed with activities as we made the most of our summer holidays. This is a bit of an epic post - though, to be fair, it's mainly photos.
After walking from channel to channel, our holiday continued with a short stay in Monmouthshire. Our Airbnb wasn't far from Rockfield Studios, actually, and the museum in Monmouth had an interesting exhibition about the studio. We were also delighted to discover Monteas, a looseleaf tea shop with a friendly owner. We bought some delicious tea.
This was the view just across the lane from our accommodation. Dream house up on the hill opposite...
Fruit and veg shop in Monmouth.
From Monmouth, we went canoeing down the River Wye, which was great fun. I'd only kayaked before, so it was interesting to get a feel for canoeing - it feels much more sedate and, if you're in a canoe with others, there's more team work and communication.
After a few days on the river, it was off to Malvern to finally visit the Malvern Hills. The short chain of hills is an eye-catching feature in the landscape, rising abruptly from the low-lying surrounds. We've seen them in passing and have always meant to visit, but it took us several years to get around to it! We just had one morning to climb to the top of one of the hills and enjoy a cup of tea sheltering from the stiff breeze. But what a morning! I loved being able to pick out other places we've been (the line of Hay Bluff was just visible in the hazy distance) and other hills we might want to climb.
After a few days on the river, it was off to Malvern to finally visit the Malvern Hills. The short chain of hills is an eye-catching feature in the landscape, rising abruptly from the low-lying surrounds. We've seen them in passing and have always meant to visit, but it took us several years to get around to it! We just had one morning to climb to the top of one of the hills and enjoy a cup of tea sheltering from the stiff breeze. But what a morning! I loved being able to pick out other places we've been (the line of Hay Bluff was just visible in the hazy distance) and other hills we might want to climb.
Looking north along the Malvern Hills. Doesn't that path just make you want to walk (or cycle, or run, if they're your things)?
Lucky sheep, to have this view. Also, the grass is probably quite nice.
 Looking south towards British Camp. Next time... |  Beautiful plumage, innit. |
Look! I have finally taken one of these photos! I made Dan strike several ridiculous poses.
I was gobsmacked at the size of this backpack - then I realised it was a paraglider. I think I overheard them say they'd glided to Cambridge from here before.
Malvern was an overnight stop on our way to Birmingham, where we stayed with a friend and spent a couple of days exploring the city (and washing our clothes, because after two weeks of walking, canoeing and sightseeing, we were a bit smelly). She took us around the city and we got to spend a few hours in the fabulous Library of Birmingham, another place we've been meaning to check out for years. We browsed books (and borrowed some, thanks to our friend!), admired the old Shakespeare Memorial Room which has been incorporated in the top floor of the contemporary building and wandered around the roof gardens checking out the view.
The iconic exterior of the library. Unmistakable.
 Inside the library, blue neon lights on the escalators. |  Inside the Shakespeare Memorial Room. |
Up on the roof terrace. The garden is a lovely place to sit (though if I recall correctly, it was quite hot).
On the way back to London, we detoured to visit the Alpkit warehouse and showroom, to look for kit in advance of our Snowy River adventure. That was fun, especially because they let me climb inside the fluffiest sleeping bag I have ever seen. I've always wanted to try one of those out, though I have absolutely no reason to use one in earnest!
I love a good ghost sign, though I think this one has been touched up.
 The canal at Kings Cross with astroturf steps. |  This lock was guarding an inner city garden/allotment of some kind. |
Bikes at the bike cafe, Look Mum No Hands.
In London, we met up with a friend for breakfast and did a bit of city exploring to find some wooden streets. Yep. Did you know that the streets of London (and Melbourne, and many other cities) were once paved with wood? You can read about it in this great article by Ian Visits. I came across this when doing some research for our Snowy River adventure (a proper research rabbit hole) and decided I wanted to see it for myself. Our walk took us down some interesting back streets as well as along main roads, making for a fun afternoon wandering around the city.
 This is some more recently laid wooden paving near Old Street station. |  And here's an old remnant, preserved on a manhole cover. |
A closeup of the wood on the manhole cover on Farringdon Road. What a great piece of history!
Home again, home again. But being home didn't stop us getting out and about. We were making the most of our time before heading back to work.
Pretty flowers in the garden near our house, looked after by the Beautiful Battle volunteers.
Wild swimming in the River Rother near Newenden. (Most people venture out in boats hired from the campsite.)
We visited Rye with a friend one beautifully sunny day.
The view from Rye out over the sea. Summer haze blended water and sky at the horizon.
A few delicate flowers in bloom at a friend's caravan in Hastings.
On the last day of August we walked all the way around Bewl Water. We'd been meaning to do the 20km/12.5mi circuit for a while and the weather forecast was fine, so off we set! Our circuit took us anti-clockwise from the main carpark/cafe area, along dirt and paved paths, down country lanes, around a few small hills, through woods and fields and along the Sussex Border Path for a while. It's a great walk if you're up for doing something of that length.
Beautiful still water in the morning. The signs warning of blue-green algae put me off going for a paddle, though!
It's always lovely to see the birds and wildlife drawn to the water. These gulls were up and down, up and down, maybe fishing?
I always try to imagine what places would have looked like before they were flooded by reservoirs - the little valleys and nooks, now gone.
 An exciting find: hops in the hedgerow! |  Another way to see the sights. |
Boats on Bewl Water.
A very helpful sign, not particularly close to the water and totally obscured by trees.
The home stretch: heading back along the reservoir wall under a sky striped with mares' tail clouds.
And on that note, let's call it a day (or a month)!
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